February, 2003 AD
Corrin didn't know that anyone was trying to rescue him. The boy couldn't have, because he wasn't in Windmire as the Hoshidans' contact had told them. He lived in the remote Northern Fortress, located, as the name suggests, tucked away in a valley among the northern mountains of Nohr. The sizable, octagonal stone structure occupied an island in the center of Dark Mirror Lake, with the only way in being a broad cobblestone bridge accessible from the south bank. A wide turret occupied each corner of the fortress, and two high towers rose just within the northern face. The shorter of the two housed the soldiers' barracks, while the bedchambers of the servants, guests, and royalty occupied the taller tower.
King Garon had placed his captive here a week after Sumeragi died. The official story—based on Corrin's pale skin, snow-white hair, and pointed ears—was that he was an albino, too fragile to wander on his own and too weak to face the people of Nohr at his invincible "father's" side. Garon rarely visited, though Corrin spent a few days at Castle Krakenburg every few months. Garon's children, on the other hand, frequently made the two-and-a-half-day trip to see Corrin, fearing that he would become lonely with only a handful of servants and a battalion to keep him company in the oppressive fortress.
Today was one of the rare days when his sisters, Elise and Camilla, and his brothers, Leo and Xander, were all able to be there together; and it marked the first time Xander had visited at the same time as Corrin's friend from nearby Ettrick, Silas. Corrin's so-called siblings all had various shades of straight blond hair, with the exception of Camilla's wavy lavender locks, and Silas bore a head of silver that resembled Corrin's more than any of the others. The five children—ten-year-olds Corrin and Silas, eight-year-old Leo, and five-year-old Elise—were chasing each other around the fifth floor of the residential tower, while thirteen-year-old Camilla and fifteen-year-old Xander talked in hushed voices about the most recent catastrophe that their father and Queen Mikoto of Hoshido had tried to pass as negotiations. Nothing was ever any different—Mikoto would not give up the lush, uninhabited plains just east of the Bottomless Canyon, and even with his own step-daughter's freedom on the line, Garon would not give up his hostage until his demands were met.
"Sister, please, dry your tears," the crown prince said softly. "The little ones don't need to see you cry."
"Sorry," she replied, quickly running a finger under both her eyes. "I just..."
He shook his head. "Camilla, I can only reassure you so many times. I have no doubt whatsoever that the Hoshidan royal family will have accepted her, just as we've accepted Corrin into our family. Mikoto's people know her as the 'Mother of Hoshido,' and I've no reason to expect she'd hurt a little girl."
"I...understand that, Brother." The princess huffed, feeling more tears on her cheeks. "That doesn't make me any less desperate to have her back. My sweet, shy little baby sister needs her family!"
The children stomped by again, giggling merrily. As they disappeared around the corner, Xander sighed. "I know I don't have to explain the hypocrisy of that sentiment." Camilla averted her eyes, and he took a half-step closer. "When we bring her home, it will be the day that Corrin—"
"Stop." She turned away from him completely. "I don't want to talk about this any more."
"Camilla, you can't..." Xander broke off when the little ones came racing around the hearth once more. Elise didn't look where she was going and smacked right into Camilla's leg, flopping backwards on her rear.
"Oh! Are you alright?" Camilla fretted, kneeling down to inspect her with far more urgency than Xander thought necessary.
"I'm okay," Elise said, a little shaken but clearly not hurt.
"You're sure?" Camilla felt her sister's forehead. "No bump?"
"Nope."
"Your backside's not sore?"
Elise pouted and shook her head, her curled pigtails flapping all around. "Big Sister, I'm fine!"
The teenager clicked her tongue, brushed off the child's dress, and pulled her into a tight hug. She realized that the gesture might seem a tad much, given that they lived together in Castle Krakenburg and saw each other almost every day, but for now, she was just helplessly grateful to still have her adorable baby sister.
Elise was unfazed. "Camilla, why is your chest so big and soft?" she asked, with innocent disregard for context. Her thoughtless, essentially meaningless words filled the silent air, and politics were momentarily forgotten as Xander cringed and quickly guided the boys away.
"Gods, Elise! You cannot just ask a girl that!" the lavender-haired princess said indignantly.
The lads' snickering escalated into outright laughter, to which Xander was quick to sternly respond, "Shush up, you three!" They resumed their giggling the moment he turned away, and he felt the corners of his mouth briefly twitch up with them as he took his littlest sister from Camilla. "Elise," he said calmly to her bewildered face, "you really shouldn't ask other girls about their chests." His brothers and their friend hollered again, and he grinned for a fleeting moment before regaining his composure.
"Why?" Elise asked, her violet eyes twinkling.
"You'll know when you're older," he replied matter-of-factly.
"But—"
"Can you promise..." Now Camilla was laughing, too, making it agonizing to keep a straight face. "...that you won't say things like that anymore?"
Elise looked at her siblings more confused than ever, but nodded at her big brother. "I promise, Xander."
"Good," he said, setting her down and letting his serious expression dissolve. "Good. Good gods!"
Glancing between her hysterical elders, Elise couldn't help but begin laughing along, too.
()
After dinner, it was far too cold outside to practice swordplay, so Corrin and Xander faced each other in the living-room for the former's training. They each wore leather padding and wielded simple wooden swords. Camilla, Elise, Leo, and Silas crowded together on a red velvet couch by the softly crackling fire, watching intently and wondering how long it would take before the Crown Prince let Corrin land a hit.
Xander held his arms apart, welcoming an attack. "Come on, Corrin. Hit me! I know you've got it in you."
The warrior-in-training hefted his mighty sword, threw his body behind his blow...and missed completely. Xander's face fell briefly. "No, Corrin. Firm, but light! Make me dance around your blade. Keep the flow of battle under your control."
Corrin came at his brother again, this time with more controlled swings, and Xander was able to at least pretend to exert effort in dodging each attack. "Yes, that's better! Don't let up; Hoshidan warriors love their counterattacks. Keep the pressure on!" He parried a couple of Corrin's hits, almost letting himself be struck. "That's it, that's it...but watch out!" he shouted just before bringing his sword down leisurely at Corrin's head. Corrin quickly (at least, by his standards) raised his own wooden blade to block, then dashed forward to get behind Xander's defenses. Xander was almost caught off guard, and decided that Corrin had earned a hit. "Agh!" he grunted as he received the light blow to the gut. Their audience cheered at the display, but to his credit, the lad maintained his focus. Corrin landed one more strike on his brother's side, then seemed to back off.
Xander let two seconds pass, trying to make it obvious that the opening was still there. This had been a frequent issue in their recent training sessions. Corrin had no issue spotting an opening, but he was far too worried about causing his brother even a little harm. Despite the great promise he showed with the techniques he used on training dummies, the boy's progress in their sparring matches had been slowed drastically by his hesitance. Before he'd even arrived, the Crown Prince had decided how the problem ought to be addressed, though he'd maintained a vain hope that Corrin would not need the harsh lesson.
Rather disappointedly, he began striking back. His wooden blade found its mark easily, hitting Corrin just hard enough to make him feel it through the armor, and batting the boy's sword away when he tried to shield himself. A few times, Corrin nearly flinched right into his brother's weapon, and Xander had to take care not to strike his head. Eventually, Corrin's sword escaped his failing grip, and he cowered away pathetically. Xander did not relent, beating the boy's sides and legs while Corrin failed to guard himself with his arms.
"Xander, that's enough!" Camilla declared, standing abruptly from the sofa and nearly knocking Silas from his perch on the arm. Elise shared her sister's look of concern, while Leo tried to hide a snicker. Sighing deeply, Xander halted his assault. He pointed his sword under Corrin's chin, forcing his brother to look up at him. Xander refused to shy away from Corrin's eyes, which were watering noticeably and conveyed a feeling akin to betrayal.
"I...I'm sorry, Xander..." the child said quietly, nearing tears.
"Corrin," the Crown Prince started, choosing his words carefully, "you mustn't let up during a duel. For any reason, understand? When you think you've injured your opponent, when you stay your blade, is when they strike back hardest." He thought of Azura again; how Hoshido had stolen her away years after Corrin's capture, just when it seemed Mikoto would finally surrender the plains in exchange for her son. "Obviously, I don't expect you to want to hurt a brother. But I can take it." He pounded his padded chest twice for effect. "Next time, throw everything you have against me."
Corrin didn't seem like he was cheered whatsoever by Xander's lecture, so Camilla stepped in with a smile. "Well, that's enough training for one night." She shot her older brother a brief glare to silence his obvious protest, to which Xander responded by turning away. "Corrin, why don't we check out this bird I hear you and Silas have rescued?"
That got Corrin to perk up immediately. "Oh yeah! I found her in the snow a couple of weeks ago. Her name is Lilith, and she loves to eat!" He haphazardly shed his padding and took her by the hand, leading her to the stairwell while Silas chimed in,
"Like, she reaaally loves to eat."
Xander frowned as he watched the pair leave, folding his arms out of habit. Camilla's gentle, doting nature was certainly necessary in his siblings' lives—she carried the roles of both sister and mother in their rather peculiar family. Yet her interference in their training would need to stop immediately. And, for that matter, she needed to double down on her own training with her wyvern. He would have to have a word with her before they left the fortress.
Suddenly, Leo and Elise interrupted his thoughts by leaping onto his back in a carefully coordinated sneak attack. Caught off guard, he faked a cry of agony and overdramatically brought them all to the floor, allowing them to pin him down for a few seconds before tossing them both back onto the couch.
()
"Oh my," Camilla gasped upon seeing the bird, which was awake but docile. It lay on the mahogany nightstand by Corrin's simple bed, which stood in the middle of his neat room. A small fire burning within a marble hearth cast a dim, pleasant light across everything. She glanced at the two boys, who walked over to Lilith and began gently stroking her. The feathery creature had a long body, but a small wingspan. Its eyes were a bright amber color, its back shone bright blue with a red streak down its spine, and its front and the undersides of its wings were white. The princess had never seen anything quite like it.
"Isn't she pretty, sister?" Corrin said, his excitement making him a bit louder than he meant to be. "Miss Daniela thinks that she's an undiscovered species!"
"She's beautiful, Corrin. And so friendly!" Camilla marveled. She reached out to pet the top of Lilith's head with her finger, and the bird nuzzled firmly into her hand. "Is she hurt anywhere?"
"I don't know," Corrin admitted. "I think she must've hurt her wing, since she can't fly so well."
"Check this out!" Silas said. He grabbed a bread roll from a nearby bowl and held it out to Lilith. She pecked lightly at it, then tore it apart with startling force and devoured the whole thing in a few seconds.
Camilla was almost shocked. "Er...wow," she managed. "She...really does have quite the appetite. And you've been feeding her regularly?"
Corrin nodded. "Yep, she eats four times a day, so I usually give her something different each time. She doesn't seem to care what she eats, but she won't eat unless I hand the food to her."
"Huh." Feeling she had nothing more to add about the creature's eating habits, Camilla shifted her focus to its apparent injury. "You said she can't fly well. She can fly, then?"
"Uh-huh." Corrin nudged Lilith forward. "Can you fly for Camilla, Lilith? Please?" The bird tweeted softly, then hopped off the table and flapped her wings. She circled around their heads a couple of times, looking fairly steady, and landed without incident. "Huh," the prince muttered. "I guess she's better."
Silas shrugged. "Well that's good."
Camilla was visibly confused. "Um, Corrin...I think Lilith is healthy enough to fly away."
"Yeah..." he said, as puzzled as she was. "But I don't think she would—"
As if she possessed an acute sense of irony, Lilith chose that moment to take off and leave through the open window. She soared effortlessly over the calm lake, past the craggy cliffs dotted with moss and spindly trees, and disappeared over the hills. The two royals stood silently, both stunned by the ridiculous timing. Camilla glanced at her brother, expecting tears, but he instead started to chuckle. "Heh...Well, uh, that was Lilith, I guess. Pffft-hahaha!"
Camilla chuckled with him, relieved that Corrin was taking this in good humor. He always had been one to find the bright side of any situation, a talent that he certainly hadn't learned from his siblings or the King. She wondered if it was a Hoshidan trait, but dismissed the thought instantly. In her mind, Corrin wasn't a Hoshidan at all. He was just her sweet, kind little brother.
"Well that was, if nothing else, a fun little diversion," she remarked.
"Haha, guess so." Corrin glanced at the window again, shrugged, and reached into the bowl of bread for a roll.
Camilla snickered. "Don't waste your appetite on the animal's food," she chided.
"No sense in letting it go to waste," Silas retorted, merrily grabbing a piece for himself and tearing open the stale crust.
The princess tut-tutted and took a seat on the edge of Corrin's bed. "So, boys, will it be right back to running and wrestling downstairs, or would you rather play something else?"
Silas lifted a hand, taking a moment to swallow the excess of bread in his mouth. "Prince Leo said he brought a new board game from the capital. Something strategic, like chess, but with dice."
"Oh, right!" she remarked. "I remember hearing that Xander had helped him commission a new game. What do you think, Corrin?"
The pale prince's mouth hung slightly open, and his eyes drifted off to the side. "Camilla, I think…I want to fight Xander again."
Her face fell. "Oh, gods. Whatever for, sweetheart?"
Silas nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Corrin. He didn't seem too happy when he was beating the hell out of you."
"Language, please," Camilla chided.
"He's only doing what he thinks he has to," Corrin said guiltily. "And he barely gets to visit anymore. He's always stuck in the castle with Father, or out doing missions. I shouldn't skip on him."
"You don't need to spar every minute you're with him, sweetie."
"I know. But I can't avoid training with him."
The quip brought back his sister's smile. "And you never have. Just now, even when you lost your sword, you didn't run away. You stood your ground as long as you could. I think that shows you've learned more than just swordplay from Xander."
The boy perked up. "You think so?"
"Of course! Matter of fact, I get the feeling that's exactly what he's trying to do—turn you into a big, tough Xander Junior. Pretty soon he'll start combing your hair like that silly arch he has."
The trio shared a giggle. The Crown Prince truly needed a new hairdresser, preferably one who knew how to cut bangs instead of combing them upward and outward. "I hope not!" Corrin said. "But…" He coughed. "I still think I should train a little longer. I know Xander's not trying to make me feel bad. He just wants me to be strong enough to defend myself. I need to learn how to fight like a real man!" He puffed out his chest, earning laughter from his companions.
"Well then," his sister sighed, kissing him on the forehead. "I suppose we shouldn't keep him waiting."
"But you guys—"
"They'll still be time for games afterward," she assured Silas.
"Aw… Okay."
Corrin grinned. "Great! C'mon!" He took her hand and energetically tugged her along as he ran from the room with Silas trailing close behind, slowing only when Camilla called for him to watch the stairs.
()
"The story of Siegfried, the blade Father gave to me," Xander told Leo and Elise, who listened intently on either side of him, "is a fantastical tale going back generations! Since the founding of the kingdom, it has always been in the possession of a great hero of Nohr. Its blade has cut down bandit, invader, and monster alike, hundreds of times over."
He stopped when Camilla and the boys returned. "How is the bird?" he asked, hiding his disappointment over his pathetically short training session with the young prince. Corrin surprised him by hurriedly gathering his leather padding off the floor and replacing it over his clothes, allowing Camilla to secure the laces of his armguards.
"She flew away," he said simply. "Brother, I'd like to train some more."
Xander smiled. "I suppose I didn't bruise you too bad earlier?" Ignoring the younger children's pleas to tell his story, he rose from the sofa and grabbed his wooden sword, which was leaning against the side. Camilla took his place, hugging both of the little ones close while being careful to keep Elise away from her chest. Silas hopped back up on the arm of the couch by Leo's side.
"Nope," the boy replied with a smirk. "I'm good to go!"
"Kick his butt, Corrin!" Silas yelled, earning a light punch from the youngest prince.
"Ha! Very well, Corrin," the crown prince said. "Whenever you're ready, come at me! Remember: if you have an opening, do not relent. You must really try to hurt me." Corrin picked up his sword off the floor and raised it with both hands, stepping slowly toward his brother. Xander swung first, catching Corrin off guard, but kept his blade far away enough that he knew he wouldn't actually land a hit. Corrin managed to parry only a little late, and followed the move up by advancing on his opponent while keeping their swords locked together. He went around Xander's left side, to which Xander responded with a horizontal slice. Again, Corrin parried the blow and began hitting Xander as hard as he could. As he'd been told, his attacks were easily stopped by the firm armor. Corrin resolved to deform it, hoping with all his heart to finally impress his siblings. "Excellent!" Xander exclaimed. "I'm not done yet, though. Watch out!" He jabbed his wooden blade at Corrin and was, yet again, satisfyingly deflected. Several more counterattacks were parried with a natural grace that, while nowhere near the caliber of the Crown Prince, was highly impressive in a child Corrin's age. Each successful guard was followed up by a relentless assault that Xander hoped would also become characteristic of his brother's fighting style.
Deciding he'd been sufficiently beaten for now, Xander let himself fall backwards as if the force of the attacks had crippled him. "No more, Brother! I yield!" he cried in an exaggerated tone.
Corrin breathed heavily, exhausted. He smiled and chuckled, letting the tip of his sword hit the floor. His sisters on the couch cheered, a "Woo, Big Brother!" from Elise and a "Great job, Corrin!" from Camilla. Silas whooped and hollered, and even Leo, the stoic little critic, looked impressed. Xander stood and clapped him on the back. "Excellent work, Corrin!" he said excitedly. "This was a major breakthrough for you, today. I want you to keep training with the guards, and don't forget to practice blows to the head on the straw dummies."
"I will, Xander!" Corrin declared. "Someday, I'll be as strong as you!"
The teen beamed, ecstatic that soft-spoken Corrin might actually become a warrior worthy of Nohrian royalty. "Well, with that enthusiasm, of course you will!" He hoisted Corrin onto his shoulder and paraded his brother over to their siblings, allowing the other children to climb him as well. He kept cheering, but mouthed "help" to Camilla when he found himself over-encumbered. The force of her own cackling at his predicament nearly brought her to tears as she helped him lower the kids to the floor.
Leo gestured eagerly to the others. "Hey guys! I can make a real fireball now! You wanna see?" The others responded with even greater enthusiasm, and the quartet dashed off to the boy's guest bedroom.
When they had all disappeared down the hall, Camilla turned to Xander. "Gods, Father might let Corrin leave the fortress after all," she said, a tinge of distress evident in her voice.
"Indeed," Xander responded plainly. "...Does that upset you, Sister?"
"Well of course it does!" she snapped back. "For one thing, I'm worried Father will send him off to war. He's too sweet for such a traumatizing ordeal! Of course, the same goes for Elise, but she's more likely to be a cleric than a myrmidon. Leo, I think, could handle himself just fine, but..."
Xander raised his hands to halt her. "Sister, please, calm yourself. Father will not, and cannot, send Corrin to war. You once again—"
"Damn you, I know he's a prisoner!" Camilla hissed. "But if he's still our prisoner and war breaks out, why the hell wouldn't Father make him a soldier? Gods' sakes, you're the one training him!"
Xander cringed and gestured for her to lower her voice. A discussion between royal children about an impending war was sure to be poorly received by any listener, let alone Corrin and the little ones.
Thankfully, she decided to comply. "Is it not possible, even likely, that Father sends Corrin to battle?"
"I do not think it 'likely,' Camilla. Father knows perfectly well that there is a limit to the deception."
"I'm afraid I…" The princess coughed, glancing behind her at the empty doorway. "I do not trust Father's wisdom nor his goodwill to deter his spite, not forever. Or—no," she stumbled, interrupting his rebuttal. "I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. I only think that the longer things go on like this, the worse tensions will be between Father and the Mother of Hoshido."
Xander withheld a hasty reply. His instinct told him to defend his father, but lashing out at his sister's reasonable concern would benefit nobody.
"And then, as if all that isn't bad enough, I can't even imagine Corrin actually learning who he really is. What happens when he discovers we aren't his real family?" The last word nearly fell apart in her throat, and she made a conscious effort to straighten her posture, for what little it would do to preserve her dignity. Xander looked at her sideways, thinking far too hard about a simple matter. "Well say something, damn it!" she demanded.
He shook his head remorsefully. "I'm sorry. It isn't right of me to answer your fears with politics." Her eyes softened somewhat at his apology. "Corrin has the makings of a great warrior. I believe that, if he is to join the battlefield in the future, he will be strong enough in body and mind. To answer your other concern… Ah, well it's no less personal for me than you," he assured. "I can only say that Corrin loves us as much as we love him. Of course, he'll have to learn the truth someday. When we get Azura back and our family is whole again, then…" He felt his voice straining, not as sure of himself as he seemed to be. "…then we will tell him the truth. And we will love him exactly as we have always loved him, and he'll do the same for us. Until then, all that matters is that he knows he's loved here, and when the time comes, we'll just have to see how things play out."
Camilla dried her tears on her sleeves. "Not the most reassuring speech," she complained. She then hugged Xander suddenly, and he hugged her back without hesitation. "You're right about one thing for sure," she said. "Of course he'll still love us. He's our little Corrin."
"Always."
A gruff voice spoke up across the room. "Pardon me, milord and milady. Supper will be ready shortly."
"Wonderful," Xander replied, releasing his sister. "Thank you, Sir Gunter."
"Shall I collect the children?" Gunter asked. Few dark hairs remained among the gray atop the aging knight's visage, but his dignified attitude and the broad muscles that lingered beneath his suit testified to his past as a warrior.
The prince waved him off. "Thanks, but that won't be necessary. We'll get them."
"As you wish." Gunter nodded and walked away, his polished shoes clicking along the tile.
A thought crossed the Camilla's clearing mind. "Er, perhaps we shouldn't have let them alone with a Fire tome anyway."
"Haha...oh."
The prince and princess shared a glance, then took off jogging up the stairs to Leo's room, where three of their four other siblings were—of course—safely and responsibly practicing pyromancy.
()
"It smells scrumptious!" Camilla remarked. "Give my compliments to the chef, Miss Daniela."
"Will that be all?" the maid asked flatly. Her tone made it clear she was hoping for a "yes."
"It will. Thank you."
The Nohrian royal heirs and their guest were seated around a dining table comfortably sized for six, with Xander and Corrin at the ends. Before each of them lay two porcelain plates, one carrying a bright scarlet lobster, and the other a buttered roll and an array of steamed carrots and beans. A silver platter of watermelon slices and grapes occupied the center of the table.
"So tell me, Silas," Xander said, cracking into a claw. The boy looked up from his conversation about Leo's impressive fire magic. "How is Ettrick faring through the drought?"
"Um, okay, I think."
Camilla shot her brother a look. "Don't trouble him, Xander. You can head to Ettrick on your route home and speak with Lord Silvanus."
"I'm curious to hear it from Silas," Xander insisted. "If he doesn't mind, of course."
Silas shook his head. "I on' migh…" He swallowed his mouthful of carrots. "Sorry. I don't mind, Your Highness."
"Excellent." Xander sipped from his glass of wine and set it down. "Is the Cadgill still flowing strong?"
"The water's always lower in the winter, but I think it's fine." Silas paused to slurp the meat out of the end of a leg. "Although, my friend Cat's mom said to enjoy the river in the summer, because in a few years it'll be dry. I don't know if she knows about that stuff, but she's not a peasant."
"How can a river be dry?" Corrin asked.
"When there's no water in it," Leo suggested with a roll of his eyes.
"Okay, yeah, but you know what I mean. The Cadgill supplies all the water in Ettrick. How could it just dry up?"
"It won't," Xander stated. "Not soon, anyway. But the water's receding because the sun has been so scarce the past few years, and without sunlight, there's no snowmelt to feed the river."
"And that's why we've just got carrots and beans," Leo added.
Camilla frowned at Xander again. "Brother, I insist you stop this. We don't need such dire talk at the dinner table."
He sighed. "Very well. Let's have something cheery, then. How's everyone's horseback riding coming along?"
"Ooh! Me, me!" Elise piped up, dropping her fork onto the floor and waving her hand in the air. Camilla chuckled and grabbed her a spare from the silverware basket on the table.
"Go ahead, Elise," Xander said.
"I love Silver sooo much!" the child squealed. "He's such a nice horsey, and I can almost climb up on him without Cammy helping!"
"That's wonderful, sweetheart."
"He really is a great horse," Camilla added. "Such a sweet temperament, and so obedient. Perfect for a new learner."
"And how about you, Leo?" Xander inquired. "You were getting good at directing your horse—Astra, was it?"
"Yeah, Astra's the best!" the young mage declared. "We impressed Father by running a new course in just a couple of minutes!"
"Really? I wish I could've been there."
"But Xander, when am I going to start learning to fight on horseback?"
"Ha! You'll have to be patient for that, I'm afraid. You need to be able to fight on your own feet before you can safely swing a sword atop a mount."
"I guess," Leo agreed. "When did you start fighting on horseback?"
"Oh, I was older than Corrin is now, Brother. You'll get there."
"If you say so."
"And, Corrin. How—"
"Xander, can you, er…not ask me?" Corrin requested, shrinking in his seat.
The Crown Prince lowered his head. "Not well, eh?"
His brother shook his head.
"Well, that's perfectly fine. I think you'll be more than adequate on foot in a few years' time, anyhow." Seeing Corrin perk back up, he smirked and gripped his glass. "And who knows, maybe riding will come to you naturally." After another sip, he turned to Silas. "How about you? Are you being trained for combat?"
"Yes, milord!" Silas replied. "Father says I'm the future of Ettrick, so I need to be a figure our people can be prideful of."
"That's fantastic," Xander praised. "Perhaps we ought to arrange for you and my brothers to spar regularly."
The boys shouted their approval at once, drowning out each other's words. Xander laughed and raised his hand. "Alright, alright. Settle down. You know this wouldn't just be a play date. Gunter will be making sure you're using the correct forms."
"Prince Xander?" Gunter spoke from the doorway.
The prince turned in his chair. "Speak of the devil. What is it, Sir Gunter?"
"You're needed at the gate, milord. The, ah…new help has arrived, sir."
"…I see." Xander set his silverware down and slid his chair back from the table. "I'll go at once."
"I'll come too," Camilla said, rising to follow him.
"No!" he protested, a bit too roughly. "Please, everyone just stay here, for now."
"My new maids are here, right?" Corrin asked.
"Corrin, I said to stay in your seat."
"New maids?" Elise repeated, pushing her torso up onto the table.
"Why can't I see them?" Corrin pressed.
"Please!" Xander took a breath. "Relax and finish your meal. The girls are going to be nervous, being so far from home. Be patient, and let them introduce themselves when they're ready."
To his relief, Corrin relaxed in his chair. "Okay. I hope they don't take long."
"Yes, well, don't rush them," the Crown Prince reminded him. "Let's be off, Gunter."
The moment he turned the corner from the dining room, Xander felt his legs up their pace on their own. Realistically, the situation required no urgency, but the nature of the coming encounter had weighed heavily on his mind for days. Numerous times he'd arrested thieves and put brigands to the sword without pause, but escorting slaves to their new master was far and away the cruelest task he'd undertaken. And never had he imposed the harsh chains of the law upon the heads of innocent children.
The front gate stood open to receive them. Mistress Daniela, the young Head of Staff at the Northern Fortress, was just outside, speaking to a pair of little girls dressed up in the impractical garb of Nohrian maids. Their short black skirts flared sharply outward, held stiff by the thin wire cages within, and each had been made to don a frilled white headband. They stood side-by-side, tightly gripping each other's hand.
"Mistress Daniela," Xander called.
The pale woman turned on her heel. She wore a dark brown cloak over a dignified suit, and an exasperated frown across her face. "Took your time, Your Highness?"
"No, as a matter of fact, I did not. I feared your indolent crassness might be ill-fit for the current situation."
"O-Of course, my lord. My apologies." Daniela took a step back as the prince approached the children.
He eyed the twins curiously. The cobblestone at their feet had developed a thin layer of frost absent from the rest of the ground. Even the air felt cooler near them, as if the pair radiated cold. They shared the same face, with differences only in their hair and eye colors. One had pink hair with icy blue eyes, while the other sported ice-blue hair and gray eyes. At the base of their necks, each girl had fastened a large topaz bearing the color of her sibling's hair.
"Welcome to the Northern Fortress," Xander said warmly. "Might I have your names, girls?"
They remained silent. The pink-haired one trembled as she looked up at him, while her sister eyed the floor defiantly and tried to hide her tears.
'They can't be older than Corrin,' Xander thought. 'Damn it, Father. Was this the only solution?'
"Why don't we go inside?" he invited. Still he received no response. He sighed and knelt down on one knee, bringing his face level with theirs. "You don't have to speak. Just look at me, and nod or shake your heads. Okay?"
The pink-haired girl began to bawl, and buried her head in her sister's shoulder. Her sister hugged her and made an effort to scowl at Xander, but found herself too choked up to hold the expression. The temperature seemed to fall further, causing him to shiver, and the frost spread further over the stones.
'Where the hell is the justice in this?'
"I understand how difficult this must be," Xander tried again. "I would like to make this castle a home for you, if you'll let me." He reached out slowly for the blue-haired one's hand, startled when she drew away.
"Take us back to Papa," she said between sobs, as forcefully as any ten-year-old could.
"Did the soldiers hurt you?" Xander questioned. "Are you both okay?"
"Take us to Papa!"
"Please, I need—"
"Take us to Papa! Take us to Papa!"
Xander dipped his head and exhaled. The girl continued to scream at him for a minute, then two, and perhaps five or more before she gave up the futile act. He raised just his eyes, finding that the anger in her glare had given way to hopelessness. She wasn't quite so young as to truly misunderstand her condition. Two weeks of being shuttled northward couldn't be reversed by so powerless a thing as the word of a child prince.
He placed a hand over his chest. "My name is Xander," he said. "Could I have yours?"
The blue-haired girl continued to stare at him. Her sister's head shuffled, leaving the nest it had made in her shoulder.
"I-I'm Fe…Fel…eesh…a…"
Xander smiled. "Felicia?"
The pink-haired one—Felicia—sniffled. "Uh-huh."
"Thank you, Felicia. Welcome to the Northern Fortress." He looked to her sister. The cold snap had begun to subside. "And your name?"
She thought about it a moment longer. "Flora," she said, releasing Felicia with one hand to dry her cheeks.
The prince nodded. "Well met, Flora and Felicia. Now then…" He rose to his feet. "Do you wish to wait here any longer, or shall we go inside?"
The twins faced each other, and Flora wiped a tear from Felicia's chin. "We'll—" She sniffled. "—come in, Xander."
"Excellent. Mistress Daniela will…er, or would you rather I showed you to your quarters?" he proposed.
"You," she said immediately.
He chuckled, and beckoned them inside. "Come along then. The staff will be eager to meet you. Not to mention, the Fortress' master, my brother Corrin. Come to think of it…" He lifted a hand to his chin as if deep in thought. "Corrin is about your age."
"Really?" Felicia piped up.
As they walked, the gates clicked softly shut behind them. In an instant, the gray light of day was replaced with the orange glow of the braziers, and the bracing mountain air had given way to homely warmth as the Ice Tribe girls found their new home in Nohr's coziest prison.
